Tag: chris rodriguez

Commanders fare poorly in 2023 NFL draft re-grade

The early returns aren’t good for Washington, but a new regime brings hope.

Ron Rivera’s final season in charge of the Washington Commanders was horrendous. The Commanders finished 4-13 and fielded the NFL’s worst defenses, and Rivera was relieved of his duties in January.

Rivera’s final legacy with Washington is his 2023 NFL draft class. The early returns aren’t good. Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, the Commanders’ first-round pick, was benched twice. Second-round pick Quan Martin showed flashes when he was allowed to play, while third-round pick Ricky Stromberg barely played, made no impact and missed the second half of the season with an injury.

Fourth-round pick Braeden Daniels likely wasn’t making the team out of training camp and was placed on injured reserve. Fifth-round pick K.J. Henry showed promise in the second half of the season, while sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez Jr. thrived in a limited role. Finally, seventh-round selection Andre Jones Jr. didn’t do much but has tools.

So, if we graded this class after one year, it wouldn’t be a passing grade.

Diante Lee of The Athletic recently regraded the entire 2023 NFL draft, assigning grades to all 32 NFL teams. Lee placed Washington under the final category: A step backward/Incomplete. Only three teams were in this category, and Lee offered the following analysis:

Washington Commanders: D-minus

Emmanuel Forbes (No. 16) had some rough moments, to the point that he was benched during the 2023 season. Safety Quan Martin (No. 47) played in the slot by necessity as a rookie, but it’s not clear if that’s the best spot for him in Dan Quinn’s defense. After trading away two starting edge rushers last year, this team cannot afford to have its early picks sitting on the bench.

That’s a deserving grade. We could make the case you could give Washington an F. The good news here is that new head coach Dan Quinn brings hope. Quinn hired an all-star staff, including new defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., known for his work with defensive backs. That’s good news for Forbes and Martin.

If Forbes and Martin turn out to be hits, while others, like Henry and Rodriguez, can carve out roles, this draft will not look nearly as bad in a couple of years.

Best Kentucky Running Backs of All-Time

Taking a look at the five best running backs in the history of Kentucky Wildcats football.

The University of Kentucky, while not being the best football school in the country, does have a long history of running the ball and having extremely talented running backs. This isn’t just a recent thing either. It goes all the way back to the 1960’s and they have had at least one great running back for every decade.

Over the years, there have been a number of running backs from Kentucky go on to be good NFL players. Before that, they were great college players who were among the best at their postition.

From guys like Roger Bird and Sonny Collins all the way up to Benny Snell and Chris Rodriguez, the Wildcats have had come of the better running backs in the country for a long time. Making a list of the best isn’t easy, but here is one opinion of the top five running backs in the history of the University of Kentucky football.

How many ‘hits’ did the Commanders have in their 2023 NFL draft class?

How many “hits” did Washington have in last year’s draft? The new coaching staff could change the fortunes of several players.

There were questions when the Washington Commanders selected Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes over Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez at No. 16 overall in the 2023 NFL draft.

It’s not as if teams didn’t like Forbes. Several teams and draft analysts raved about Forbes, specifically his ball skills. Forbes set an FBS record with six interceptions returned for touchdowns in his three-year college career. And, playing in the SEC, Forbes routinely played against college football’s top wide receivers.

However, teams were concerned about Forbes’ slight frame.

With their second-round pick, the Commanders doubled down in the secondary, selecting the versatile Quan Martin of Illinois. Martin could play everywhere in the secondary and was seen as a valuable second-round pick, but Washington was criticized for not focusing on other need areas, such as the offensive line.

After one NFL season, there are many questions about Forbes, not so much about Martin. Forbes showed signs of flashes, but in a Week 4 loss to the Eagles, Washington’s coaches kept him in a one-on-one matchup against Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown. Brown continuously beat Forbes. The following week, D.J. Moore of the Chicago Bears did the same thing to the rookie.

Forbes was benched. He returned, was benched again and returned again. The former coaching staff did nothing for Forbes. Washington’s former defensive coordinator (Jack Del Rio) and defensive backs coach (Brent Vieselmeyer) were fired after a Thanksgiving blowout loss at Dallas.

Martin showed flashes throughout the second half of the season and looks to have a bright future under Washington’s new coaching staff.

New defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. mentioned Forbes and Martin as players he liked coming out of last year’s draft.

Outside of Forbes and Martin, the Commanders had five other draft picks. Only two gave them much of anything last season: Fifth-round DE K.J. Henry and sixth-round RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.

CBS Sports NFL draft expert Chris Trapasso recently analyzed each 2023 draft class by the number of “hits” each team had after one season.

Washington had one: Rodriguez.

It clearly wasn’t a high-volume role for Rodriguez as a rookie, but he nearly averaged five yards per tote and forced an impressive 12 missed tackles on his 51 carries. Other than Rodriguez, the Washington 2023 draft class was essentially non-existent, and first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes was a liability in coverage.

He’s not wrong. Rodriguez routinely displayed his ability in limited opportunities. As for Martin, we’d call him a “hit,” but we can also understand the jury remains out.

This draft class will always be remembered for Forbes. As other rookie cornerbacks saw more immediate success than Forbes, his selection will be criticized. However, no one should write him off. He had one bad season with an underperforming, lame-duck coaching staff.

New head coach Dan Quinn, Whitt, defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons and veteran assistant John Pagano bring plenty of NFL experience to Washington’s staff in 2024. Forbes, Martin and others should benefit from a much better coaching staff next season.

Commanders place RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. on IR

The rookie running back’s season is over.

Washington rookie running back Chris Rodriguez’s rookie season is over. The Commanders placed Rodriguez on injured reserve Thursday, ending his season.

Rodriguez, a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, played in 13 games this season, carrying the ball 51 times for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 4.8 yards per rushing attempt.

Rodriguez’s usage had increased over the past two weeks due to the injury to starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. Rodriguez was having his best game last week against the Jets, carrying the ball 10 times for 58 yards and two touchdowns before injuring his ankle.

Robinson has dealt with a hamstring injury recently. In response to Rodriguez’s injury and Jonathan Williams being in concussion protocol, the Commanders brought back Jaret Patterson to the practice squad. Currently, Antonio Gibson and Derrick Gore are Washington’s only healthy backs.

Robinson has missed the last two games but practiced on a limited basis Wednesday.

In another move, the Commanders activated linebacker De’Jon “Scoota” Harris from IR.

Rodriguez should be a featured part of Washington’s backfield, along with Robinson, in 2024.

Jets linebacker has an interesting take on Commanders’ running game

C.J. Mosley talks the difference between Washington’s offense with Howell and Brissett.

One of the biggest criticisms of Washington offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy this season is what appears to be an outright refusal to stick with the running game.

What makes it worse is the Commanders were breaking in a young quarterback. And, as the old saying goes, “A quarterback’s best friend is a running game.” That’s especially true for a young quarterback.

Sam Howell entered the 2023 season with one career start. Sixteen weeks into the season, Howell is second in the NFL with 557 passing attempts. As a team, the Commanders are No. 30 in rushing attempts, with 328, just seven more than Cincinnati, which is ranked 32nd.

In fairness to Bieniemy, Washington’s offensive line is an issue. Whether it’s run blocking or pass blocking, it’s not among the top groups in the league. But in some games, when the Commanders were having success running the ball, Bieniemy didn’t always stick with the run, putting more pressure on Howell to throw the ball 50 times.

As far as the offensive line, ask any lineman, and they’d tell you it’s much easier to run block than pass block.

The lack of a consistent running game really shows on third down. Too often this season, the Commanders have faced third-and-seven or longer, which makes it difficult for any offense to move the chains consistently.

In Sunday’s 30-28 loss to the New York Jets, head coach Ron Rivera benched Howell midway through the third quarter, replacing him with veteran Jacoby Brissett. Brissett led the Commanders on three consecutive touchdown drives to give Washington a 28-27 lead after trailing 27-7.

While Brissett was excellent, he also had some help. Bieniemy turned to the running game to complement Brissett and the passing game, and it worked.

Veteran Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley took notice and offered the following observation on the difference between Washington’s offense with Howell and Brissett.

“I feel like they stuck to their game,” Mosley said, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. “They didn’t really change the passing routes. They did run the ball a little better in the second half. They did a good job switching up the run game. Once it got closer, they kind of went back to their bread and butter. So we had to make adjustments because we were playing them more for the pass game. Second half, they ran the ball a little better, which helped them get a little more space in the passing game.”

Several things in that statement stood out. One, why couldn’t they run more with Howell under center?

But, I view this as Bieniemy taking advantage of what was given to him and the offense. That’s the mark of a good play-caller. He wasn’t too stubborn to stick with the pass, even though Washington was behind; instead, he saw an opportunity to create some first downs on the ground.

It’s been easy to criticize Bieniemy’s refusal to run at times this season, but Mosley’s explanation shows logic, at least from Sunday’s game.

Something else that stood out: That final sentence, in which Mosley mentions space in the passing game. A recurring theme this season has been the receivers not creating enough separation, whether it be the players or the scheme.

Mosley was also asked why the offense was more effective with Brissett.

“I’d say, just the way the offense was going,” he answered. “We had our ears pinned back a little bit more in the first half, a little bit more aggressive. Like I said, in the second half, they were starting to run the ball a little bit more, so we had to honor that because they were starting to get some yards on us. So we had to honor that more than the pass game, so that made the coverage a little softer in those short routes that he was throwing.

That’s some excellent analysis from Mosley on Washington’s offense from a five-time Pro Bowl player.

Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 17 free-agent forecast

Check out the top waiver wire targets in fantasy football for Week 17.

The majority of fantasy football leagues come to an end this week. It has been a long and grueling process to the point, and most of us have been left with disappointment with championship week upon us.

However, there are still plenty of vital matchups taking place, and the waiver wire should be a busy marketplace in Week 17 after the events that unfolded on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Before we get to it, I’d like to thank you for sticking with us all season. We wouldn’t be here without the readers, and even though the suggestions haven’t always worked out, we’re appreciative of the time you’ve spent with us this season.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!

Because it’s Week 17, there is no need for stashing players so we’ll only look at the top streaming options for the upcoming week along with the top waiver adds.

Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.

Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.

Commanders RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. a bright spot from another ugly loss

Chris Rodriguez continues to shine when he receives opportunities.

We’ve heard from the moment Washington drafted him in April that everyone loved rookie running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. A productive, multi-year starter for Kentucky in the SEC, Rodriguez does everything well.

He impressed the Commanders throughout the offseason but was behind Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson on the depth chart.

Throughout the season, Rodriguez received opportunities and delivered. But Robinson was having an outstanding season, and Gibson was thriving in his role.

When Robinson was injured in Week 13, Rodriguez was ready for an expanded role. He received 10 carries in last week’s loss to the Rams.

In Week 16, Rodriguez again received 10 carries. This time, he rushed for a career-high 58 yards, averaging almost six yards per attempt, and scored the first two touchdowns of his career.

Check out this run from Rodriguez on his first touchdown.

Rodriguez runs with excellent vision, power and patience. While he may not be the most physically gifted in terms of breakaway ability, Rodriguez keeps his legs moving and almost always gets positive yardage.

And when he scored his first career touchdown, Robinson greeted him on the sideline.

Afterward, Rodriguez discussed his celebration, which he planned ahead of time.

“First thing talking to [Assistant RBs] Coach [Jennifer] King, we talked about what you’re going to do for your first celebration, and we practiced,” Rodriguez said.

“I practiced and had some thought about it, and she was like, ‘Listen, you’re doing all of this; once you score, you’re not going to know what to do.’ Sure enough, when I got in there, I didn’t know what to do but shout out to the O-line. If it wasn’t for them, I probably would’ve came up a little short. With the ball, I don’t know what I really going to do with it yet. Probably keep it, but hopefully, it’s plenty more to come.”

The Commanders certainly hope there are plenty more to come, too.

A comedy of errors for the Commanders in first half of Week 16 game vs. Jets

The Commanders had an unbelievably bad start against the Jets — even for them. Here’s a look.

The Washington Commanders are a bad football team. This much we knew ahead of Sunday’s Week 16 game against the New York Jets.

The Jets, meanwhile, aren’t very good, either. New York does have a talented, young defense but struggles to score points with quarterback Aaron Rodgers lost for the season.

Entering Sunday’s game, the Jets had only scored one touchdown in the first quarter all season. Five minutes into the game, New York held a 17-0 lead over the Commanders.

How did we get there?

Let’s look at some of Washington’s follies throughout the first half of its game against the Jets.

The Commanders would eventually turn things around in the second half before losing on a last-second field goal, 30-28.

Let’s go back and review some of Washington’s first-half follies. By the way, these are only some of Washington’s mistakes, as there were far too many to follow.

WATCH: Jacoby Brissett leads Commanders on 3 straight touchdown drives

Jacoby Brissett led an impressive comeback but the Commanders fall short.

With the Washington Commanders trailing 27-7 midway through the third quarter, head coach Ron Rivera had seen enough and benched quarterback Sam Howell for the second consecutive week.

Enter Jacoby Brissett.

After a Cody Barton interception, the veteran signal-caller took advantage of excellent field position on his first drive, throwing a dart to tight end Logan Thomas for a 15-yard touchdown to cut New York’s lead to 27-14.

Here’s that touchdown pass.

After the defense forced a punt, Brissett and the offense went back to work. Brissett marched the Commanders down the field and into a goal-to-go situation. From there, rookie running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. scored his second touchdown of the day, cutting the Jets’ lead to 27-21 with around nine minutes remaining in the game.

Washington’s defense again forced a punt.

Brissett led yet another scoring drive for the Commanders, but mostly behind a defensive penalty and the running game. This time, Antonio Gibson scored a short touchdown, and suddenly, after Joey Slye’s PAT, the Commanders had the lead.

New York had two more opportunities, and kicker Greg Zuerlein took advantage of the Jets’ final chance, drilling a 54-yard field goal with five seconds remaining to give New York a 30-28 victory.

 

Commanders will be without RB Brian Robinson Jr. in Week 15 vs. Rams

Brian Robinson will miss his first game of the season on Sunday.

The Washington Commanders will be without leading rusher Brian Robinson Jr. for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Robinson, who injured his hamstring in the Week 13 loss to the Miami Dolphins, didn’t practice this week and will miss his first game this season.

Robinson leads Washington with 664 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. He is averaging 4.2 yards per attempt. Robinson has also made an impact in the passing game, catching 29 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns.

Antonio Gibson has shared backfield duties with Robinson this season and played well. Gibson has looked even better recently.

Rookie Chris Rodriguez Jr. could also see plenty of time. Rodriguez has impressed with every opportunity, and Sunday’s game could be an audition for him for 2024. Gibson is a free agent at the end of the season.

Veteran Jonathan Williams will be activated from the practice squad to serve as Washington’s third running back on Sunday.

“Jonathan Williams will be up as well; we’ll elevate him shortly,” Rivera said Friday. “We like all three guys [RB Antonio Gibson and RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.]. I mean [if] J-Will, hadn’t gotten hurt, would’ve been a tough decision that we’d have to make, but he’s got an opportunity again to show us his value for us. So, we feel good about the three of them.”

The Commanders are a touchdown underdog to the Rams on Sunday.